LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

In your Feb. 2 editorial ("Advice to Disney: Don't wish on a star in Chicago"), you write that Walt Disney Co. is playing hardball in Chicago regarding the Chicago Theatre, making increased demands, behaving in an aggressive style and getting into a "take no prisoners" negotiating mode.

I assure you that is not the case. We committed to leasing the Chicago Theatre for three years, a commitment we intend to honor. We have never indicated otherwise. We signed a lease that requires us to pay the city $3.9 million over its term. We intend to pay it. We have not sought relief from it. Nor have we sought any city tax subsidies similar to those extended to other theater companies. Who is playing hardball here?

We brought our national touring company of "Beauty and the Beast" to Chicago for a 23-week run, which ends March 29. We are quite pleased with the show's reception in Chicago. However, there is no way to extend the show's stay in Chicago, since that troupe is scheduled to play Cleveland beginning April 2.

We are actively talking to the other impresarios about bringing new shows to the Chicago Theatre during the remaining term of our lease. To ensure that, we are hiring a booking manager to work only on bringing performances to this beautiful facility. We ourselves have no other show ready to tour.

We are looking forward to contributing to the Chicago and hope that Crain's will be there when we open our new entertainment venues.

John Dreyer

Senior vice-president

Corporate communications

Walt Disney Co.

Burbank, Calif

Peotone won't fly

In response to the editorial of Jan. 19 ("Local CEOs are sending crucial message to Daley"), the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce would contend that numerous Chicagoland businesses and associations oppose a third regional airport at Peotone. Furthermore, the Chamber wholeheartedly agrees and supports the Federal Aviation Administration's decision to remove the Peotone site from the National Plan for Integrated Airport Systems because it lacks regional consensus.

These regional business and civic organizations are not bowing to a powerful politician, but realize the negative impact the proposed airport would have on the regional economy.

In representing the interests of Chicago-area businesses and the over 1 million individuals they employ, we will continue to oppose a third regional airport which does not have private financial support.

We believes a third airport will drastically hamper operations at O'Hare International and Midway airports.

Finally, as an organization that supports and promotes viable economic development projects, the chamber will remain opposed to a third airport at Peotone. The citizens of the state of Illinois and the residents of Chicago should not be burdened with a $5-billion airport that no private investor is willing to pay for and no airline has committed to use.

Ronald J. Gidwitz

Chairman of the board

Gerald J. Roper

President and CEO

Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce

Chicago

Caught in gridlock

A Jan. 26 editorial correctly stated that "the CTA's long-term financing path leads to Springfield" ("Fancy finance not enough; CTA needs more Ill. funds"). So does Metra's. We get far less funding from the state than the Chicago Transit Authority, but need a lot more money for equipment and infrastructure just to keep providing service.

Our 1998-2002 capital improvements will cost more than $1 billion. About 71% of that is for improving the existing system. The rest covers an expansion project involving three routes.

New financing techniques such as sale-leaseback of equipment and right-of-way are short-term remedies at best. Like the other Regional Transportation Authority service arms, we need long-term security. That can come only from state legislators who understand that the mobility of the Chicago region depends on more than highways.

Jeffrey R. Ladd

Chairman

Metra

Chicago

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